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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Down To Earth

Another Green Monday: Register For The Spokane River Clean-up

It’s getting closer: Please register for the 8th Annual Spokane River Clean-Up which goes down this Saturday, September 25 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Last year over 750 people volunteered, collecting over eight tons of debris and recycling over two and one half tons of it. There will also be clean-up efforts in the University District. Like last year, the River Clean-Up will take place on National Public Lands Day, during Sustainable September.

Pre-registration isn't required, but it does help organizers plan for supplies and staffing - and will help you plan where you want to work and how you'll get there. Register as an individual or as a group. Pre-registration also lets you request a specific clean-up area, each with a "team" name. (If a team needs addional volunteers, we reserve the right to re-assign folks accordingly.) If you’re ready to pre-register click HERE.

9:00 am - Check in, get your goodie bag, have some coffee courtesy of Thomas Hammer fill your water bottle (bring your own!), and find your assigned team.
-Spokane River Gorge: Meet at High Bridge Park,
 W Riverside Avenue and "A" Street
-University District: Meet at Avista Utilities
, 1411 E Mission Avenue
10 am - noon - Trash clean-up
Noon - 3:00 pm - Judging of the “most interesting trash” competition at High Bridge Park
1:30 pm - Prizes awarded for the most interesting trash
Food options at High Bridge: David’s Pizza ($2/slice), beverages ($1)
Food options at Avista HQ: Taco truck (prices vary).

Transportation ("Try not to drive!")

High Bridge Park:
-Very limited parking at High Bridge Park
-Staffed bike corral at High Bridge
-Free bus passes from SFCC to High Bridge and back, with STA busses running every 15 minutes starting at 8:30 am, so park at SFCC and ride with STA. (Route #20 serves SFCC.)

University District:
Parking at Avista headquarters or ride with STA (Route #91 goes by Avista headquarters)

This year, The Lands Council is organizing tree-planting efforts in conjunction with the River Clean-Up. Donate any amount to that effort and assist the River Clean-Up at the same time. Your (tax-deductible) donation of $20 or more also gives you a one-year membership with Friends Of The Falls. For more information, see their membership page.

Remember: The River Clean Up needs volunteers and team leaders. Team leaders attend a short orientation/training this Wednesday night, and lead a group of approximately 30 volunteers at the river cleanup. If you’d like to be a team leader or volunteer, contact Stephen Barbieri via e-mail or at 509-953-6437.

I can’t wait to see you there and let me know if you want to be on team DTE!

 

Nick is borderline. On the Bloglander, the Inlander’s blog, reporter Nick Deshais has documented quite the endeavor: walking, biking and paddling the 63-mile perimeter of the city of Spokane. Not exactly like going from Milan to Misk but still a rad idea and physically punishing.

“Along his journey — through Hillyard, across the river, up the South Hill, along the Palouse, through Hangman Valley and Riverside State Park and up to Indian Trail — he'll meet with residents, activists, environmentalists and others to talk about how the city's boundaries define us — politically, socially, etc.”

He paddles with Spokane Riverkeeper Bart Mihailovich, stops by a Hillyard tavern, and examines rural sprawl at Glenrose. Check his posts HERE and there will be a cover story on September 30th.

New York, home of the rat. I thought local politics could get dirty. We’ve got nothing on New York. First, there’s the race for Governor and a slight twist on mudslinging. Republican candidate and self-proclaimed tea bagger Carl Paladino sent a garbage scented mailer to 200,000 New York households. Full story HERE.

Second, in a futile attempt to combat New York City’s rat problem, city officials have introduce possums to Brooklyn. According to the New York Post, “Not only do wily rats continue to thrive, but the opossums have become their own epidemic, with bands of the conniving creatures sauntering through yards, plundering garbage cans and noshing on fruit trees. They've even taken up golf, with two sightings of the whiskered marsupials at the Dyker Heights municipal course in the past week, local officials said.” Dirty stinking politics, rats, and possum…I (heart) NY. Full story HERE.

R.I.P Macondo. Grist has a slightly irreverent obituary for a certain oil well. The oil well Macondo Prospect passed away peacefully in the ocean deep off the coast of Louisiana, after a long and painful struggle with BP. After suffering a fatal injury on April 20, 2010, the blown well began hemorrhaging oil and gas into the Gulf of Mexico, in an event that ultimately -- and tragically -- claimed the lives of 11 rig workers, 4,080 birds, 525 sea turtles, and Spongebob Squarepants. Although crews stopped its leaking crude on Aug. 4, the well's days were numbered, and it finally found its earthly relief well on Sept. 16, 2010. They continue with “it is survived by nearly 4,000 deepwater wells in the Gulf of Mexico, gazillions of barrels of successfully drilled oil, and whatever is left of the 4.9 million barrels of crude oil it leaked into surrounding waters.” Full obit HERE.

 

 



Down To Earth

The DTE blog is committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.